As part of the 113th Philippine Independence Day celebration, “Bae Mindanao” or “Opere di donne sulle donne di Mondanao”, the contemporary art group exhibit featuring works about women by women of Mindanao.
The exhibit opened at the Museo Nazionale Preistorico Etnografico “L. Pigorini’ in Rome. This is the first time that an all-Filipino exhibit has been staged at the monumental and historic museum.
Ambassador Romeo l. Manalo lauded the exhibit: “This art exhibit done for the world is not only for the Filipinos. It shows the Filipino talent and allows foreigners a little window to see who we are”. Manalo also expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Museo Pigorini for their accommodation.
Museo director Vito Lattanzi also praised the exhibit. “The women artists from the Philippines presented a new method for this work in our globalization. As our museum presents collection of the past, this exhibit is a bridge between the past and the future. The artists presented visual expressions from the heart and we welcome this”.
“Bae Mindanao” features top works by women artists (bae means women in Mindanao) such as sculptor and Thirteen Artists Awardee Julie Lich, Zamboaga’s Lorna Fernandez-Jumalon and daughters Amihan and Jana, former art teacher Casiana Torralba, Ilagan City’s noted artist and gallery owner Lea Padilla, multimedia artist from Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Michelle Lua, Dipolog City’s Elena and Karen Gamalinda, Emma Prima, young Mindanaoan Lea Prima and Farrah Grace Estabaya, singer-song writer Cynthia Alexander and from Bukidnon’s Talanndig artist Onanoy Saway Estrada and Salima Saway Agra.an.
Twnety-four art pieces, flown directly from Manila have been rendered in various media-from oil and acrylic to tapestry and cloth cutouts, to even soil, among others. The second leg of the exhibit was held in July 5 at the Sala A of the Casa Internazionale delle Donne in Palazzo del Buon Pastore,Rome. (Philippine Embassy Rome)
